471. Verse 13. And one of the elders answered, saying to me, signifies influx out of heaven from the Lord, and perception therefrom. This is evident from the signification of "answering and saying," when predicated of the "elders," who signify heaven where the Lord is, as being influx and perception, "to answer" meaning influx, and "to say" perception; also from the signification of the "elders," as being those who are in the second or middle heaven, where those are who are in intelligence, and through whom answers come (of which above, n. 462); and because all influx is from the Lord alone, although through the angels, these words signify influx and perception out of heaven from the Lord. That there is such a meaning in these words may seem strange; but in no other way are these words perceived in heaven. This seems strange because this is said as if it were historical, and historical things conceal the spiritual sense more than those purely prophetical; but all the historical parts of the Word also contain a spiritual meaning, and still more those that are historical-prophetical, which are such as appeared to and were said to the prophets when they were in the vision of the spirit; for all such things are representative and significative; as for instance, "the four and twenty elders" and "four animals" seen by John; this is historical-prophetical, representing and signifying the angels of the higher heavens, as has been shown above; so it follows that "one of the elders speaking to him" was likewise significative, signifying influx and perception out of heaven from the Lord. [2] "He answered" does not signify here to answer in the ordinary sense, as can be seen from its being said when there is no question, for to answer implies a question; so here it has reference to thought respecting those who were seen in white robes. Moreover, the expression "to answer" frequently occurs in the Word, and it signifies, in reference to the Lord, influx, inspiration, perception, and information, likewise mercy and aid, as in the following passages. In Isaiah:
In the time of My good pleasure have I answered thee, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee (49:8). In David:
Save me, O Jehovah; let the king answer us in the day when we call (Ps. 20:9). In the same:
Answer me when I shall call, O God of my righteousness (Ps. 4:1). In the same:
Look, answer me, O Jehovah, my God (Ps. 13:3). In the same:
I call upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God (Ps. 17:6). In the same:
I sought Jehovah and He answered me (Ps. 34:4). In the same:
He calleth* upon Me and I will answer him (Ps. 91:15). In the same:
In my distress I cried out unto Jehovah, and He answered me (Ps. 120:1);
and elsewhere. In these and other passages, "to answer" means not to answer but to flow into the thought, to give perception, and to give help from compassion; from this it is that "answers," in reference to the Lord, signify perceptions from influx. It is to be noted that whatever comes from the Lord into the perception is called influx. * Photolithograph has "call thou," the Hebrew "he calleth."
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